# epilogue

/ˈɛpəˌɫɔɡ/ (US) · /ˈɛpɪlˌɒɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/epilogue
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. literary/film ending

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a final section at the end of a story that gives more information about what happens after the main events.

For teachers: a concluding part of a literary work or film, often used to provide closure or reveal the ultimate fates of the characters.

- The epilogue explained that the two main characters eventually got married and moved to France.
- In the novel's epilogue, the author fast-forwards twenty years to show how the protagonist's early decisions shaped his children's lives.

### 2. theatre speech

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a short speech given by an actor directly to the audience at the end of a play.

For teachers: a short speech, often in verse, delivered by an actor at the conclusion of a dramatic performance.

- The actor stepped forward to deliver a witty epilogue before the curtains closed.
- Shakespearean epilogues often involve the performer asking the audience for their applause and forgiveness for any shortcomings in the play.

### 3. computing routine

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small part of a computer program that cleans up and finishes a task before moving to the next one.

For teachers: a sequence of instructions at the end of a subroutine that restores the machine state and returns control to the calling program.

- The function's epilogue ensures that the memory is cleared before the program continues.
- The compiler generates a standard epilogue for every function to pop the stack and restore the previous frame pointer.

### 4. to conclude

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to finish a story or a piece of writing with a final section.

For teachers: to provide or conclude a work with an epilogue.

- The author chose to epilogue the biography with a reflection on the subject's lasting influence.
- The documentary was epilogued by a series of title cards detailing the legal changes that occurred after the filming ended.

## Examples

- The epilogue explains what the hero did after the war.
- In the epilogue, the author reveals that the two main characters eventually married and moved to the countryside.
- While the main narrative ends on a cliffhanger, the epilogue provides a reflective look at the societal changes that occurred in the decades following the revolution.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.